Koudo also known as the way of incense, is part of the 3 traditional arts in Japan like the tea ceremony or ikebana, the flower arrangement. It’s the way to appreciate the fragrance of incense while looking for balance at the same time. When you do Kodo you don’t smell the fragrance but you “listen” to them as you need to be very focused during the ceremony.
Incense was introduced in Japan around the 8th century by Ganjin a Buddhist monk, first it was for religious purpose only. Then later the nobles started to appreciate the smell of incense in their house and on their clothes. They also started to create their own encense, mixing fragrances and trying to find the best balance and the harmony between all of those perfumes. First only the men were allowed to be initiated at the art of making and using encense, many years later women were allowed to do it as well.
According to a Buddhist monk around the 15th Century, incense as 10 virtues such as : sharpen the senses, purify body and mind, remove negativity from the mind and the house, fight against fatigue, healing from the loneliness, create harmony and balance, it does not harm health, be satisfied with little, resists against the negativity of time, the daily use does not harm.
Where to buy some incense in Kyoto ?
Today you can enjoy a large variety of incenses from the fragrances to the shapes : sticks, cones, coils. It is also a very good souvenir the bring back from your trip to Japan. In Kyoto there is several shops to buy some incense. At the Mitsuki we buy our incense in those two shops not far from Mitsuki :
- Shoyeido Kyoto Main Store (5 min by walk from the ryokan) – open everyday from 09 AM to 06 PM.
- Yamadamatsu Koubokuten (10 min by walk from the ryokan) – open everyday from 10:30 AM to 05 PM.
At the Mitsuki we burn incense to welcome our guests, do you want to join us for a couple of nights ?